Toll-free calling account recharge system and method

ABSTRACT

A calling account recharge system, method, and device are provided. The device has an associated stored-value calling account, and typically includes a selector, a communications program configured to communicate with a recharge service via a communication network, and a recharge option selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. The recharge option is configured to cause the communications program to initiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service via the communication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-value calling account. The device may be configured to access the communication network via a toll-free gateway.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to the following U.S. provisional patent applications, thedisclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety for all purposes: Ser. No. 60/259,325 filed Dec. 29, 2000, andSer. No. 60/259,541 filed Jan. 2, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to stored-value calling accountsand, more particularly, to a system and method for recharging astored-value calling account.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stored-value calling accounts are used by a large number of telephoneusers to place calls around the world. In a typical scenario, a userpurchases a wireless telephone linked to a stored-value calling accountwith a balance of, for example, $100 of calling units. The user may begiven a plastic card containing an account number and pin, as well as atelephone number that the user may call to service the account. Suchplans are typically commercially marketed under the label “PrePaidWireless,” and can be distinguished from conventional “post-paid”telephone plans.

As the user makes calls using the wireless telephone, calling units arededucted from the account. The deduction may be made either by softwarein the telephone itself, or by specialized telephone switching equipmentconfigured to carry such pre-paid telephone calls. At the beginning ofeach outbound call, the user is typically prompted with a number ofavailable minutes, or calling units. A warning tone may be emittedduring a call if the account balance falls below a predetermined minimumthreshold. If the account balance reaches zero, the current call will bedisconnected and the user will be prevented from making further calls.

The user may add calling units to the account in a process referred toas “recharge.” According to current recharge systems, recharge may occurin one of two ways. First, the user may visit a retail outlet of thewireless service provider or an authorized dealer and request thatminutes be added to the stored-value account. Second the user may callthe access number printed on the card discussed above, and request thata customer service representative add time to the account. However, theuser must typically authorize dial-up recharge when opening thestored-value account. Where this option is not pre-authorized by theuser, the user typically purchases a new stored-value card at a retailoutlet, as discussed above.

Unfortunately, these current recharge methods are inconvenient forwireless telephone users. Traveling to a retail location or authorizeddealer is time consuming and expensive. Calling a customer servicerepresentative is inconvenient because the user may be out of minutes onthe wireless telephone. If so, the user will be forced to call thecustomer service representative from a different telephone. In addition,it is also difficult for the user to remember the access number of thecustomer service representative, and the telephone card containing theaccess number may become lost or difficult to locate. Based on theforegoing, alternative approaches for recharging a stored-value callingaccount are desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A calling account recharge system, method, and device are provided. Thedevice has an associated stored-value calling account, and typicallyincludes a selector, a communications program configured to communicatewith a recharge service via a communication network, and a rechargeoption selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. The rechargeoption is configured to cause the communication program to initiate arecharge transaction with the recharge service via the communicationnetwork, in order to add calling units to the stored-value callingaccount.

According to another aspect of the invention, the device includes a userinterface having a top menu, and a recharge option installed in the topmenu. The recharge option is, upon selection, configured to initiate arecharge transaction, in order to add calling units to a stored valuecalling account associated with the wireless telephone device.

The method typically includes installing a recharge option in a wirelesstelephone device. The recharge option is configured to initiate arecharge transaction, in order to add calling units to a stored-valuecalling account associated with the wireless telephone device. Themethod further includes displaying the recharge option on the wirelesstelephone device, receiving a user selection of the recharge option,establishing communication with a recharge service via a communicationnetwork, and initiating the recharge transaction.

According to another aspect of the invention, the method includesdetecting that a calling balance of a stored value calling account islower than a predetermined threshold, and presenting a recharge optionon a display of the device, the recharge option being configured toinitiate a recharge transaction, in order to add calling units to thestored value calling account.

The system typically includes a recharge server connected to acommunication network. The recharge server is configured to perform arecharge transaction on a stored-value telephone calling account. Therecharge system also typically includes a web-enabled wireless telephonedevice having a recharge option installed thereon, the recharge optionbeing selectable by a user upon actuation of a user input device on thewireless telephone device. The recharge option is further configured tocause a communication program on the wireless telephone device toinitiate a recharge transaction with the recharge server via acommunication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-valuecalling account.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is schematic view of a stored-value account recharge systemaccording to one embodiment of the invention, showing a recharge optionlinking a wireless telephone device and a recharge service, the rechargeoption being activated by a selector.

FIG. 2 is another schematic view of the system of FIG. 1, showingdetails of the recharge service 14 and communication network 16.

FIG. 3 is schematic view showing an exemplary hierarchy of mechanismsthat may be used as the selector of FIG. 1, according to certainembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the wireless telephone device of FIGS. 1and 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing interaction between the selector andrecharge option of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing selection of a dedicated recharge menuvia a recharge key.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing selection of a recharge website via arecharge key.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing selection of a recharge IVR system viaa recharge key.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing selection of a multifunction menu via ascroll key.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing selection of a contacts list via acontacts key.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing selection of a bookmarks list via abookmarks key.

FIG. 12A is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone of FIG.1, showing a welcome screen, including a recharge option that leads to adedicated recharge menu, illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 12B is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone of FIG.1, showing a scroll key, which may be used to access a multifunctionmenu, illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone of FIG. 1,showing a menu that is multifunction menu including recharge options, oralternatively a dedicated recharge menu.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone of FIG. 1,showing the telephone connecting to a recharge site.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone of FIG. 1,showing a recharge amount options page at the recharge site.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone of FIG. 1,showing a recharge pending transaction.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone of FIG. 1,showing a recharge site home page, with an option to contact a customerservice representative.

FIG. 18 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone of FIG. 1,showing a pending call to a customer service representative.

FIG. 19A is a flowchart of a method according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 19B is a continuation of the flowchart of the method of FIG. 19A,showing a telephone-based recharge transaction.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a toll free access system according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a recharge system according to oneembodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 10. Rechargesystem 10 typically includes a wireless telephone device 18 having arecharge option 19 that may be activated by a selector 21, in order toinitiate a recharge transaction with recharge service 14, and addcalling units to a stored-value calling account associated with wirelesstelephone device 18, as described in more detail below.

As shown in FIG. 2, wireless telephone device 18 is typically configuredto communicate with recharge service 14 via communication network 16.Communication network 16 typically includes a wireless network 30,linked to Wide Area Protocol (WAP) gateway 32 and Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN) gateway 34. Wireless network 30 may be adigital or analog cellular network, PCS network, satellite network,radio frequency network, or other wireless network. Wireless telephone18 is configured to access Wide Area Network (WAN) 24, which istypically the Internet, via wireless network 30 and WAP gateway 32.Wireless telephone 18 is also configured to access the Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN) 28 via PSTN gateway 34.

Recharge service 14 typically includes a recharge server 36 configuredto access database records related to stored-value calling accounts,and, upon request from a user, cause calling units to be added to theuser's stored-value calling account. Recharge service 14 typicallyincludes at least three ways by which the user may request the rechargeservice to add calling time to an account. First, recharge service 14typically includes a recharge website, shown at 36 a in FIG. 5, that isserved by recharge server 36 to wireless telephone device 18, via WAN24. The recharge website may also be accessed by user 12 via anothercomputing device 20, such as a laptop, desktop, or handheld computingdevice, connected to WAN 24 via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 26.The recharge website typically has a link, such as recharge amountoption 19 g, by which the user may instruct the recharge service to addcalling units to the user's stored value calling account.

Second, the recharge service typically includes an Integrated VoiceResponse (IVR) system 40 configured to present an automated, prerecordedvoice menu of recharge options to the user in a telephone call betweendevice 18 and IVR system 40, carried over PSTN 28. Upon selection of onof an IVR menu options, such as recharge amount option 19 h shown inFIG. 5, recharge server 36 is configured to cause calling units to beadded to the user's stored value calling account.

Third, the recharge service typically includes at least one CustomerService Representative (CSR) 38 configured to answer telephone callsfrom user 12 and present recharge options to the user. Upon selection ofan option by the user, the CSR typically instructs recharge server 36 toadd calling units to the user's stored value calling account. It will beappreciated that telephone calls to IVR 40 and/or CSR 38 may be placedby user 12 via wireless telephone device 18, or via another telephone22.

As shown in FIG. 4, wireless telephone device 18 is typically aweb-enabled wireless handset having a processor 18 a, a wirelesstransceiver 18 b configured to communicate with wireless network 30, andmemory 18 c. The handset further includes a speaker 18 d and microphone18 e for the user to listen and speak through, as well as a user-inputdevice 18 f (typically a keyboard) and a display 18 g, via which theuser may dial a telephone call and otherwise interact with handset 18.While typically separate components, it will be appreciated that theuser-input device and display may be combined in a touch-sensitivescreen configured to both display information and receive input from theuser. It will also be appreciated that processor 18 a may also beconfigured to recognize voice commands.

Memory 18 c typically includes non-volatile, preprogrammed memory 18 h,such as ROM, volatile memory 18 g, such as RAM, and non-volatile,user-programmable memory 18 i, such as Flash memory. The non-volatilememory 18 h is configured to store an operating system 18 m, whichincludes instructions for the basic operations and user interface ofhandset 18, as well as communications program(s) 18 n. As used hereinthe term “program” refers to a set of instructions interpretable by acomputer, and may refer to one or more data files or executable filescontaining such instructions.

Communications program(s) 18 n typically include a telephonecommunications program 18 o configured to manage telephone calls placedand received through the wireless network 30, and a web browser 18 pconfigured to download web pages from remote websites via WAP gateway32, and present the web pages on display 18 g.

User-programmable memory 18 i is typically configured to store auser-programmable contact list 18 l of telephone numbers, anduser-programmable bookmarks 18 k. As used herein, the term “bookmark”refers to a link interpretable by web browser 18 p to link the user to adestination website, and the term “contact” refers to a linkinterpretable by telephone communications program 18 o to place a callto a destination telephone number.

While wireless telephone device 18 is typically a wireless handset asshown in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that wireless telephone device18 also may be a telephone-equipped PDA, head-mounted wirelesstelephone, or other wireless telephone device.

Typically, wireless telephone 18 is associated with a stored-valuecalling account, the balance of which may be stored on the handsetitself, or in a database associated with the telephone carrier. As theuser places calls to various locations using the calling account,calling units (typically denominated in minutes) are subtracted from thecurrent account balance. When the account is low, the user may wish toadd calling units to the account, in a process referred to as recharge.

As discussed above, to recharge the stored-value calling account, theuser may choose recharge option 19 by actuating selector 21 on thewireless telephone 18. In response to selection of the recharge option,the recharge option is configured to cause communication program 18 n toinitiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service 14 via thecommunication network 16, in order to add calling units to thestored-value calling account.

The communication link between the wireless telephone 18 and therecharge service 14 may occur in one of two basic modes, a web-basedmode or a telephone-based mode. For web-based calling account recharge,the recharge option is configured to cause the web browser 18 p tocontact a recharge server 36 of the recharge service via the WAN, anddownload a recharge web site for display on wireless telephone device18, as shown in FIG. 15. For telephone-based calling account recharge,the recharge option is typically configured to cause the telephonecommunications program 18 o to contact the IVR system 40 or CSR 38 ofrecharge service 14, via a telephone call placed over the PSTN 28.

As shown in FIG. 3, selector 21 may be any one of a variety ofselectors, including a hard key with a single “hard-wired” function, asoft key that changes function depending on the mode of the userinterface, a touch screen graphical icon or word icon, or a voicecommand. One example of a hard key is the scroll key 21 d, discussedbelow. Although the scroll key may be used to scroll through a varietyof menus, its retains a single function, i.e., to scroll, and thus, forthe purposes of this application, it is a “hard” key. Examples of “soft”keys include the contacts key 21 a, bookmarks key 21 b, and recharge key21 c, all described below.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the user may select a contacts soft keyselector 21 a on wireless telephone device 18 to display a contact list18 l, and further may select a recharge contact option 19 a from thecontact list. Selection of recharge contact option 19 a causes telephonecommunications program 18 o to initiate a telephone call to recharge IVR40, or alternatively to CSR 38. The IVR 40 and CSR 38 are eachconfigured to present a one or more recharge amount options 19 h to theuser, from which the user may select a desired amount. Once selected,the recharge transaction is fulfilled, and calling units are added tothe stored value calling account.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the user may select a bookmarks soft keyselector 21 b on wireless telephone device 18 to display a bookmark list18 k, and further may select a recharge bookmark option 19 b from thebookmark list. Selection of recharge bookmark option 19 b causes webbrowser 18 p to request recharge website 36 a from recharge server 36.Typically recharge website 36 a includes one or more recharge amountoptions 19 g, from which the user may select a desired amount. Onceselected, the recharge transaction is fulfilled, and calling time isadded to the stored value calling account.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the user may also select a recharge key 21 c,which typically causes a dedicated recharge menu 25 to be displayed ondisplay 18 g of wireless telephone device 18. The dedicated rechargemenu 25 typically includes recharge via web option 19 c and recharge viatelephone option 19 d, the selection of which respectively causes thewireless telephone device 18 to connect to recharge website 36 a orrecharge IVR menu 40 a/CSR menu 38 a. Recharge website 36 a includes oneor more recharge amount options 19 g. Similarly, recharge IVR/CSR menus40 a, 38 a include one or more recharge amount options 19 h. It will beappreciated that the recharge key 21 c may also be configured todirectly link the wireless telephone device 18 to recharge website 36 aor recharge IVR/CSR menu 40 a, 38 a, as indicated by dashed lines inFIG. 5. Selection of recharge amount options 19 g, 19 h by a user causesrecharge server 36 to add calling units to the user's calling account.

FIGS. 6-11 show user interaction scenarios according to variousembodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, wirelesstelephone device 18 may be configured such that actuation of rechargekey 21 c causes a dedicated recharge menu 25 to appear on display 18 g.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, wireless telephone device 18 may beconfigured such that actuation of recharge key 21 c causes a rechargewebsite 36 a to appear on display 18 g. While typically a plurality ofrecharge amount options 19 g are presented to the user, it will beappreciated that the recharge option may be configured to cause thecommunications program to contact the recharge server 36 of rechargeservice 14 and add a predetermined recharge amount 19 i to thestored-value calling account. To save time, the predetermined rechargeamount is typically added to the calling account without furtheruser-input, and payment for the predetermined recharge amount is billedaccording to information stored in a user profile on record with therecharge service.

As yet another alternative, shown in FIG. 8, wireless telephone device18 may be configured such that actuation of recharge key 21 c causestelephone 18 to connect to recharge IVR menu 40 a. As shown in FIG. 9,wireless telephone device 18 may also be configured such that actuationof a scroll key 21 d causes a multifunction menu 27 to appear on display18 g. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, wireless telephone device 18 may beconfigured such that actuation of a contacts key 21 a or bookmarks key21 b causes a contacts list 18 l or bookmarks list 18 k, respectively,to appear on display 18 g.

FIGS. 12A-18 show an exemplary user interface of wireless telephonedevice 18. FIG. 12A shows a start-up screen or “welcome screen” 42 ofwireless device 18. Typically wireless telephone device 18 is configuredto detect whether the balance of a stored-value account associated withthe telephone is below a predetermined threshold value. If the balanceis detected upon start up to be below the predetermined threshold,start-up screen 42 typically displays a low-balance indicator 44 inorder to indicate to the user that the account balance of thestored-value calling account has dropped below the predeterminedthreshold. Start-up screen 42 is also typically configured to display arecharge option 19, actuatable by recharge soft key 21 c. According toone embodiment of the invention, the recharge option 19 may be presentedonly if the account balance is below the predetermined threshold.Alternatively, the recharge option 19 may be presented each time thewireless telephone device 18 is turned on.

Upon user actuation of recharge option 19 from start-up screen 42,wireless telephone device 18 is configured to display a dedicatedrecharge menu 25, as shown in FIG. 13. Typically, the dedicated rechargemenu only includes menu options related to recharging the stored-valuecalling account associated with the wireless telephone device. Ofcourse, one wireless telephone device 18 may have several stored-valuecalling accounts associated therewith, and therefore, recharge menu 25may include options to recharge more than one account.

FIG. 12B shows a top menu 46 of wireless telephone device 18. As usedherein the term “top menu” refers to the highest-level menu in the menuhierarchy of the user interface of wireless telephone 18, and is themenu displayed to the user while the device is at rest. Top menu 46typically includes a recharge option 19 actuatable by recharge key 21 cand a scroll option 31 actuatable by a scroll key 21 d. Scroll key 21 dis configured to scroll through a multifunction menu, shown at 27 inFIG. 13. According to one embodiment of the invention, the user canselect the recharge option 19 directly from the top menu by one touch ofselector 21 c, and be connected to recharge website 36 a, shown in FIG.15. This feature of the invention is referred to as “one-touch recharge”or “one-button recharge.” Additionally, the user can press scroll key 21d from top menu 46 and cause multifunction menu 27 to be displayed. Frommultifunction menu 27, the user can select recharge by web option 19 gor recharge by telephone option 19 f. Because the user touches thebuttons of wireless telephone device 18 twice before being connected torecharge website 36 a, this feature of the invention is referred to as“two-touch recharge” or “two-button recharge.”

FIG. 13 shows a recharge menu, which may be the dedicated recharge menu25 or multifunction recharge menu 27 as discussed above. The rechargemenu typically includes a recharge by web option 19 c, 19 g configuredto connect the wireless telephone device 18 to recharge website 36 a,and/or a recharge by telephone option 19 d, 19 f configured to initiatea telephone call to IVR system 40 or CSR 38.

As shown in FIG. 14, upon selection of recharge by web option 19 c, 19 gthe wireless telephone device is configured to connect to rechargeserver 36, in order to download a recharge amount options page 36 a′ ofrecharge website 36 a. Typically, the user navigates the recharge menu25, 27 using the scroll button and selects a desired recharge optionusing select key 37. The scroll and select buttons function similarlyfor the screens shown in FIGS. 15 and 17.

As shown in FIG. 15, recharge options page 36 a′ typically includes aplurality of recharge amount options 19 g and a link 33, which uponselection, initiates a telephone call to a customer servicerepresentative 38 at the recharge service 14, as shown in FIG. 18.

Upon selection of a desired recharge amount option 19 g′, rechargeserver 36 is configured to process the recharge request and add thedesired amount of time to the user's stored-value calling account. Theuser may be prompted by recharge server 36 to enter payment informationvia wireless telephone device 18, or the fee may be charged according topayment information stored in a pre-entered user profile accessible byrecharge server 36.

Once the transaction has been completed, an order completion message maysent by recharge server 36 for display to the user, as shown in FIG. 16.After the recharge transaction, the user is typically returned to a homepage 36 a″ of the recharge site 36 a, as shown in FIG. 17. The home pagetypically includes a link to recharge options page 36 a′, a linkconfigured to enable a user to edit a user profile, and a link 33 tocontact a customer service representative. The user profile typicallycontains (1) payment information such as a payment number, (2)stored-value calling account information such as the account number,balance, and PIN, (3) wireless telephone device information such as thewireless telephone number, (4) a predetermined recharge amount 19 i (ifany) that the user would like to be automatically added to the user'saccount upon selection of a recharge option the user's telephone device.

Turning now to FIGS. 19A and 19B, a method according to one embodimentof the present invention is shown generally at 100. Method 100 typicallyincludes, at 102, installing a recharge option 19 on a wirelesstelephone device 18 having an associated stored-value calling account.Typically, the recharge option 19 is a contact entry 19 a, bookmarkentry 19 b, recharge by web option 19 c, 19 e, or a recharge bytelephone option 19 d, 19 f, as described above, and is actuatable by aselector 21 on the device. It will be appreciated that the rechargeoption may alternatively take a wide variety of other forms. Typicallythe recharge option is selectable by a user by at most one touch, oralternatively by at most two touches from the top menu of the wirelesstelephone device.

At 104, the method typically includes the user turning on the wirelesstelephone device 18. At 106, the method typically includes detectingthat a stored-value calling account balance is below a predeterminedthreshold, and displaying an indicator 44 to indicate the low balance tothe user, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. At 108, the method typicallyincludes displaying a recharge option 19 on the wireless telephonedevice. The recharge option may be displayed upon start-up, in a topmenu of the wireless device, as an option in a multifunction menu, as anoption in a dedicated recharge menu, as a bookmark, as a contact, or inanother suitable manner, as discussed above.

At 110, the method typically includes receiving a user selection of arecharge option. Typically the recharge option is for web-basedrecharge, in which case the method proceeds to step 112, or is fortelephone-based recharge, in which case the method proceeds to step 124in FIG. 19B. These two options may be selected by recharge by web option19 c, 19 g, and recharge by telephone 19 d, 19 e, respectively, as shownin FIG. 13.

At 112, the method typically includes connecting the wireless telephonedevice 18 to recharge server 36 via WAP gateway 32 and WAN 24, which istypically the Internet. At 114, the method typically includesdownloading a recharge site 36 a from recharge server 36 and displayingthe site on display 18 g of wireless telephone device 18, as shown inFIG. 15.

At 116, the method typically includes receiving a user selection of arecharge amount, typically by user selection of recharge amount option19 g or 19 h, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 15. At 118, the method typicallyincludes applying fraud detection measures to the user's order.Exemplary fraud detection measures are described in U.S. Pat. No.6,516,056, entitled “Fraud Prevention System and Method,” the disclosureof which is herein incorporated by reference.

For example, such fraud detection measures may be applied in associationwith a payment account that a user may desire to use to pay for arecharge option. An exemplary method of fraud detection may thus includereceiving a payment account designator, such as a credit card number,from the user. Optionally, as mentioned above, such information may bestored in a user profile on record with the recharge service. The frauddetection method may further include assessing a risk level of thetransaction, by identifying any fraud indicators associated with thepayment account. Such fraud indicators may relate to past transactions,such as authorization failures, mismatches between information providedby the user and that provided by an authorization server, excessiveorder history, chargebacks, or may relate to the pending transaction,such as whether the call is placed from a high-fisk area and/or an areaother than that associated with the payment account, and so forth. Suchfraud indicators may be detected by receiving information from the user,querying records stored in a database that contains customer and/orpayment accounts records, requesting information from an authorizationserver and/or the issuer of the payment account, and so forth.

A risk level for the recharge option transaction may be determined, orassessed, by assigning each identified fraud indicator a value, such asaccording to a predetermined weighted system or other value assigningsystem. The exemplary method may continue by determining whether theassessed risk level meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold. If theassessed risk level does not meet or exceed a predetermined threshold,then the recharge option transaction may proceed to fulfillment aftercompleting any necessary authorization steps (for example, verifyingwith an authorization server and/or an issuer that there are sufficientfunds or credit associated with the payment account to authorize thetransaction). If the assessed risk level meets or exceeds apredetermined threshold, the order may be reviewed by a fraud clerk orother customer service personnel, and fulfillment of the order may bedefened until (or unless) the order is verified by such personnel. Orderverification may be obtained, for example, by contacting the issuer ofthe payment account and determining whether information given by theuser matches that in the issuer's records. The user then may becontacted, either to verify the order, if there is a match, or tocollect further information, if there is a mismatch. The method mayinclude repeated checking of information given by the user, until afraud clerk determines whether or not the order should be verified. Ifthe order is verified, the method may conclude by fulfilling the order,such as by completing the recharge transaction. If an order is notverified, the method may include canceling the order.

Thus, as mentioned in the exemplary fraud detection method describedabove, if there is a problem in fraud detection, the user may betransferred to a customer service representative. In addition, atvirtually any other time during the recharge process, the user mayselect a “call to service representative” option 33 from the rechargehome page 36 a″ or recharge amount options page 36 a′. This option willplace a call via the PSTN from wireless handset 18 to customer servicerepresentative 38.

At 120, the method typically includes processing the order by addingtime to the account, as shown in FIG. 16. The account balance may bestored in software on wireless telephone 18, in a database located atthe recharge service, at a third party carrier or elsewhere. At 122, themethod returns the user to the recharge site home page 36 a″, shown inFIG. 17.

After step 110, the method may also include the user selecting “rechargevia telephone” option 19 d, 19 f from menu 25, 27, as shown in FIG. 13.Upon such selection, the method typically includes, at 124, connectingwireless telephone device 18 to a CSR 38 or IVR system 40 via PSTN 28. Ascreen showing the pending connection is illustrated in FIG. 18.

At 126, the method further includes presenting recharge amount options19 h to the user, either via CSR 38 or IVR 40. At 130, the methodincludes receiving a user selected recharge amount option. The user maykey in the option to a telephone keypad of wireless telephone 18, or mayspeak the selected option, which will be recognized by a voicerecognition software module within IVR 40. At 130, the method furtherincludes applying fraud detection measures, as discussed above in step118. If no fraud is detected, then the method includes processing theorder at 132, which is accomplished in a similar manner to step 120described above. After the order is processed, the call is ended at 134.

Turning now to FIG. 20, a toll free access system is shown generally at200. Toll free access system 200 typically includes a wireless handset202, a toll free gateway 204, and a plurality of web sites 206.Typically, web sites 206 are merchant sites at which the user maypurchase goods and/or services. Typically, toll free gateway 204 islocated at a predetermined, provisioned telephone number that users ofwireless handset 202 may access, free of charge. A web page is servedfrom a server located at toll free gateway 204 to telephone 202,featuring a list of remote web sites 206. Prior web enabled telephoneshave been configured to access the Internet on a metered basis. That is,typically the user has been charged for each minute of “connect time”during which wireless telephone 18 is connected to the Internet viawireless network 30. In contrast, gateway 204 is configured for tollfree access. The user does not incur any long distance or per minutewireless access charges to call the gateway 204. Thus, the user mayaccess the gateway, and the various web sites 206 linked thereto,without incurring any wireless access or long distance charges. Thus,even when user's prepaid calling account has a zero balance, the user isable to call gateway 204 and shop at merchant web sites 206. Typically,the user's telephone carrier has configured its telephone switches todetect when the user dials the predetermined telephone number of thegateway 204, and prevent connect time access charges from being appliedto the call. The present system has the advantage that users are notcharged for shopping at merchant sites 206. Thus, users may spend moretime shopping at these sites free of charge, and make more purchases,thereby benefiting both the consumer and the merchant.

It will be appreciated that the toll-free gateway 204 may be implementedin system 10, in order to provide wireless telephone device 18 toll-freeaccess to the communication network 16 when communicating with therecharge service. In this case the communication program is typicallyconfigured to initiate a web-based or telephone-based rechargetransaction by sending an accompanying signal to the communicationnetwork that the recharge web access or telephone call should be tollfree, and the communication network is configured to respond by routingthe call in a toll-free manner. In this scenario, recharge service 14 isone of the merchant sites A-C.

The above described embodiments of the present invention may be used bya wireless telephone device user to recharge a stored-value callingaccount associated with a wireless telephone device, in a moreconvenient and efficient manner than prior recharge systems.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, those skilled inthe art will understand that many variations may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. The description ofthe invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obviouscombinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presentedin this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combinationof these elements. Where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element orthe equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to includeincorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring norexcluding two or more such elements.

1. A wireless telephone device having an associated stored-valueaccount, the wireless telephone device comprising: a selector; acommunications program configured to communicate with a recharge servicevia a communication network; and a recharge option selectable by a userupon actuation of the selector, the recharge option being configured tocause the communications program to contact a recharge server of therecharge service and add a recharge amount to the stored-value accountand to initiate both a connection to the communication network and arecharge transaction with the recharge service via the communicationnetwork, in order to add calling units to the stored-value account. 2.The wireless telephone device of claim 1, wherein the recharge server isa web server, the communications program includes a web browser, therecharge option is a link to the web server of the recharge service, andwherein selection of the link causes the web browser to download arecharge web site for display on the wireless telephone device.
 3. Thewireless telephone device of claim 1, wherein the recharge amount is auser-selectable recharge amount.
 4. The wireless telephone device ofclaim 1, wherein the recharge amount is added to the account withoutfurther user input.
 5. The wireless telephone device of claim 1, whereinthe communications program includes a telephone communications programand the communication network includes the PSTN, and wherein selectionof the recharge option is configured to cause the telephonecommunications program to initiate a telephone call to an IntegratedVoice Response system at the recharge service.
 6. The telephone deviceof claim 1, wherein the communications program includes a telephonecommunications program and the communication network includes the PSTN,and wherein selection of the recharge option is configured to cause thetelephone communications program to initiate a telephone call to a livecustomer service representative at the recharge service.
 7. The wirelesstelephone device of claim 1, wherein the selector is a key, a soft key,a hard key, an icon on a touch screen or a voice command.
 8. Thewireless telephone device of claim 1, further comprising: a low-balanceindicator configured to indicate to the user that the account balance ofthe stored-value account has dropped below a predetermined threshold. 9.The wireless telephone device of claim 1, wherein the recharge option isselectable by at most one touch by the user, from a top menu of thewireless telephone device.
 10. A method of recharging a stored-valueaccount, comprising: installing a recharge option in a wirelesstelephone device, the recharge option being configured to initiate arecharge transaction, in order to add calling units to a stored-valueaccount associated with the wireless telephone device; displaying therecharge option on the wireless telephone device; receiving a userselection of the recharge option; and in response to the received userselection of the recharge option, contacting a recharge server of arecharge service and adding a recharge amount to the stored-valueaccount and both establishing a connection to a communication networkand initiating the recharge transaction.
 11. The method of claim 10,further comprising: detecting that a balance of the stored-value accountassociated with the wireless telephone device is below a predeterminedamount.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the recharge option isdisplayed as a menu option on a display of the wireless telephonedevice, is displayed as an icon, is made by selection of a key.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, wherein, from a top menu of the wireless telephonedevice, the recharge option is configured to be selected by at most onetouch of a key by a user.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein thewireless telephone device includes a web browser, the method furthercomprising: downloading a recharge web site from the recharge service,and displaying the web site on the wireless telephone.
 15. The method ofclaim 10, the method further comprising: receiving user selection of therecharge amount.
 16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:receiving information relating to a payment account for paying for theuser-selected recharge option; and applying fraud detection measures inassociation with the payment account.
 17. The method of claim 10,further comprising, processing the recharge transaction and adding unitsto the stored value account.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein therecharge option is a telephone link to the recharge service, andestablishing a connection includes calling an Integrated Voice Responsesystem at the recharge service via a PSTN.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the recharge option is a telephone link to a live customerservice representative at the recharge service.
 20. A pre-paid wirelesstelephone recharge system, comprising: a recharge server connected to acommunication network, the recharge server being configured to perform arecharge transaction on a stored-value account; and a web-enabledwireless telephone device having a recharge option installed thereon,the recharge option being selectable by a user upon actuation of a userinput device on the wireless telephone device, the recharge optionfurther being configured to cause a communication program on thewireless telephone device to initiate both a connection to thecommunication network and a recharge transaction with the rechargeserver via the communication network, in order to add units to thestored-value account.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein, from a topmenu of the wireless telephone device, the recharge option configured tobe selectable by a user of the wireless telephone device by at most onetouch of a user input device of the wireless telephone device.
 22. Thesystem of claim 20, wherein the communication network includes a WAN,and the communication program includes a web browser, and wherein uponselection of the recharge option, the web browser is configured todownload a recharge web site from a recharge server at the rechargeservice.
 23. The system of claim 20, wherein the communication networkincludes a PSTN, and the communication program includes a telephonecommunications program, and wherein upon selection of the rechargeoption, the telephone communications program is configured to place atelephone call to the recharge service.
 24. A method for use in awireless telephone device having a display, the method comprising:storing in the device while the device is not in communication with arecharge service, a balance of a stored value account; detecting thatthe stored balance is lower than a predetermined threshold; andpresenting a recharge option on a display of the device, the rechargeoption being configured to be selected by a user; and initiating, bysaid recharge option when selected, both a connection to a communicationnetwork and a recharge transaction, in order to add units to the storedvalue account.